City council to contact legislators

Move aims to put health care measure on ballot to let the people decide

The La Grande City Council voted to send a letter encouraging legislatures to put a measure on the ballot regarding the Affordable Health Care Plan.

At last month’s meeting, Oregon Rural Action presented to the city council to request a letter be sent. The council had decided to table the decision.

On Wednesday night, City Manager Robert Strope said historically, the city council has not endorsed political issues or candidates. Strope said the council took a stand on supporting the La Grande School District school bond, but that’s the most political the council has gotten.

Bill Whitaker, who had made the official request to the council in January, said ORA is not looking for an endorsement of the measure, but the encouragement to the legislatures to put it on the ballot to let the people decide.